Outdoor Activities & Entertainment

Entertainment: Discovering Entertainment in Our Community

Entertainment in the Washington, DC metro area is one of its genuine differentiators. As the nation's capital, the region supports cultural, dining, and performance venues at a scale typically found only in New York or Los Angeles. Chevy Chase itself is quiet and residential, but everything described below sits within 30 minutes of the practice.

Dining

The DC metro dining scene is nationally recognized, with more than 30 Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants across DC and the surrounding suburbs. The scene spans price points, cuisines, and neighborhoods.

Within Chevy Chase and Friendship Heights:

  • La Ferme, a classic French destination in a converted farmhouse
  • Clyde's of Chevy Chase, longtime staple
  • Capital Grille at Friendship Heights
  • RPM Italian at The Collection
  • Arami Sushi

Nearby Bethesda:

  • Extensive restaurant row along Woodmont Triangle
  • Standout spots include Olazzo, Q by Peter Chang, Raku, Mussel Bar, and Mon Ami Gabi

Washington, DC:

  • Rose's Luxury, Minibar, Pineapple and Pearls, Komi, and dozens of other top-tier restaurants
  • The 14th Street, Shaw, Georgetown, and Union Market corridors are the densest dining districts
  • Michelin-starred and James Beard-recognized restaurants throughout

Performing Arts

  • Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: The nation's preeminent performing arts complex, hosting National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, ballet, theater, and international touring productions
  • Arena Stage: One of the country's leading regional theaters
  • Shakespeare Theatre Company: Award-winning classical theater
  • Strathmore: Major concert hall in North Bethesda with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra residency
  • The Anthem and 9:30 Club: Premier live music venues
  • Wolf Trap: The only national park dedicated to performing arts, 25 minutes from Chevy Chase

Museums

The Smithsonian Institution operates 17 museums and the National Zoo, nearly all of which are free to enter. Beyond the Smithsonian, the region offers dozens of additional museums.

  • National Gallery of Art
  • National Museum of Natural History
  • National Air and Space Museum
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Phillips Collection
  • International Spy Museum
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Festivals and Annual Events

  • National Cherry Blossom Festival: Late March through early April, drawing more than 1.5 million visitors
  • Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Free summer festival on the National Mall
  • DC JazzFest
  • Taste of DC
  • Capital Pride
  • Independence Day celebration on the National Mall
  • National Book Festival

Shopping Districts

  • Friendship Heights: Adjacent to the practice, anchored by The Collection at Chevy Chase with Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Tiffany, and Saks Fifth Avenue
  • Bethesda Row: Walkable upscale district with Anthropologie, Lululemon, Apple, and local boutiques
  • Georgetown: Historic shopping district with M Street retail corridor
  • CityCenterDC: Contemporary luxury retail complex

Professional Sports

The DC region supports a full slate of professional teams:

  • Washington Commanders (NFL)
  • Washington Wizards (NBA)
  • Washington Mystics (WNBA)
  • Washington Capitals (NHL)
  • Washington Nationals (MLB)
  • DC United (MLS)
  • Washington Spirit (NWSL)

Capital One Arena, Nationals Park, and Audi Field are all within 25 minutes of Chevy Chase. Note that MedStar Health serves as the official healthcare partner for several of these teams.

Nightlife

Nightlife is concentrated in DC proper, with neighborhoods each offering distinct character:

  • 14th Street for craft cocktail bars and restaurants
  • Adams Morgan for a more energetic scene
  • Georgetown for traditional upscale bars and waterfront venues
  • Shaw and U Street for live music and historic jazz clubs
  • The Wharf for waterfront dining and music venues

Outdoor Activities: Embrace the Outdoors: Activities in Our Area

The DC region offers extensive outdoor access despite its urban setting. Rock Creek Park runs directly through the heart of the area, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is 40 minutes away, and both the Shenandoah Mountains and Atlantic beaches are reachable for weekend trips.

Parks and Natural Areas Near Chevy Chase

  • Rock Creek Park: 1,754 acres running directly through DC and along the eastern edge of Chevy Chase. One of the oldest urban national parks in the US, offering more than 32 miles of hiking and biking trails.
  • Capital Crescent Trail: Paved 11-mile rail trail running from Silver Spring through Bethesda and into Georgetown. Connects directly to Chevy Chase.
  • Cabin John Regional Park: 500-acre park with trails, miniature train, ice rink, and sports facilities
  • Meadowbrook Local Park: 55-acre park along Rock Creek

Regional Destinations

  • C&O Canal National Historical Park: 184.5 miles of towpath running from Georgetown along the Potomac River to Cumberland, MD. The lower section in Georgetown and Great Falls is ideal for walking, running, and cycling.
  • Great Falls Park: Dramatic waterfalls on the Potomac River, 20 minutes from Chevy Chase on both the Maryland and Virginia sides
  • Potomac River Gorge: One of the richest biodiversity areas in the eastern US
  • Shenandoah National Park: 90-minute drive west; 200,000 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains with 500+ miles of trails including the Appalachian Trail
  • Assateague Island National Seashore: 3-hour drive east; wild horses, barrier island beaches, and kayaking

Hiking and Biking

  • Billy Goat Trail (Sections A, B, C): Iconic rocky scramble along the Potomac River gorge
  • Cabin John Trail: 7 miles through stream valley parks
  • Sugarloaf Mountain: 45 minutes north, popular short hike with panoramic views
  • Appalachian Trail access: Harpers Ferry, WV is 60 minutes away
  • Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD): 45-mile paved trail in Northern Virginia
  • Metropolitan Branch Trail: Growing urban rail-trail network in DC

Water Recreation

  • Potomac River: Kayaking, paddleboarding, and rowing from Georgetown waterfront and Fletcher's Boathouse
  • Chesapeake Bay: 40 minutes east; sailing, fishing, crabbing, and boating
  • Annapolis: Sailing capital of the mid-Atlantic; 45 minutes east
  • Deep Creek Lake, MD: 3-hour drive west; Maryland's largest inland lake for summer lakefront and winter skiing

Golf

The DC region has one of the densest concentrations of high-quality golf in the country:

  • Congressional Country Club (Bethesda) - host of multiple PGA Championships and US Opens
  • Columbia Country Club (Chevy Chase) - adjacent to the practice area
  • Chevy Chase Club - historic private club
  • Bethesda Country Club
  • Woodmont Country Club
  • TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm - public-accessible PGA Tour venue
  • Numerous public courses across Montgomery County and Northern Virginia

Skiing and Winter Sports

  • Whitetail Resort, PA: 90-minute drive; closest full-service ski area
  • Liberty Mountain Resort, PA: 90 minutes
  • Roundtop Mountain, PA: 2 hours
  • Wisp Resort, MD: 3 hours in Deep Creek Lake area; full mountain skiing and snowboarding
  • Winter recreation at Cabin John Regional Park: ice skating close to home

Wildlife and Nature

  • Rock Creek Park is home to deer, red foxes, and more than 180 bird species
  • The Potomac River corridor supports bald eagles, great blue herons, and seasonal migratory birds
  • Piney Run Park and Black Hill Regional Park offer quieter wildlife viewing in upper Montgomery County
  • Assateague wild pony herds are a weekend drive away

Recharge and Play: Recreation Options

Montgomery County operates one of the most extensive public recreation systems in the Mid-Atlantic, with more than 400 parks and 62 recreation facilities. Chevy Chase residents have ready access to county facilities as well as private club options that are among the most prestigious in the country.

Montgomery County Recreation Centers

The county operates full-service recreation centers offering pools, gyms, fitness classes, and programming for all ages:

  • Bethesda Pool and Recreation Center (seasonal outdoor pool)
  • Wheaton Indoor Aquatic Center (year-round indoor pool, lap swimming, and family swim)
  • Cabin John Regional Park (ice rink, skate park, playgrounds)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
  • Chevy Chase Community Center (operated by the Town of Chevy Chase)

Sports and Athletics Facilities

  • Cabin John Ice Rink: Year-round public skating and hockey programs
  • Wheaton Sports Pavilion: Indoor soccer, basketball, and volleyball
  • Montgomery County indoor and outdoor tennis courts throughout the county
  • Pickleball: Rapidly expanding public court access across Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and DC
  • Public basketball and soccer fields in nearly every Montgomery County neighborhood

Private Country Clubs

The Chevy Chase and Bethesda area is home to several of the most prestigious private clubs in the United States:

  • Chevy Chase Club - historic club founded in 1892
  • Columbia Country Club (Chevy Chase)
  • Congressional Country Club (Bethesda)
  • Kenwood Country Club (Bethesda)
  • Bethesda Country Club
  • Woodmont Country Club (Rockville)
  • Burning Tree Club (Bethesda)

Membership is typically invitation-based with substantial initiation fees.

Fitness and Wellness

  • Equinox locations in Friendship Heights and Bethesda
  • Solidcore, Barre3, Orangetheory Fitness, F45, Pure Barre, CorePower Yoga all with multiple area locations
  • Private Pilates and yoga studios throughout Chevy Chase and Bethesda
  • [solidcore] and SoulCycle studios in DC and Bethesda
  • NIH Fitness Center access available to some federal employees

Family and Youth Recreation

  • Imagination Stage (Bethesda): Children's theater and performing arts
  • Montgomery County public library system: Robust children's programming
  • KidsPark (indoor play)
  • Cabin John miniature train and carousel
  • Glen Echo Park: Historic carousel, art classes, Spanish ballroom dances, and cultural events
  • Strathmore: Youth music and arts programs alongside professional concerts
  • Round House Theatre (Bethesda): Family and adult theater programming

Aquatic Facilities

  • Multiple outdoor summer pools across Montgomery County
  • Year-round indoor aquatics at Wheaton, Martin Luther King Jr., and other county centers
  • Private swim and tennis club options for families
  • Rock Creek Pool and Chevy Chase-area neighborhood pools

Cycling Infrastructure

  • Capital Crescent Trail begins in Chevy Chase and runs to Georgetown
  • Bethesda Trolley Trail links to Silver Spring
  • Capital Bikeshare stations throughout the region
  • Road cycling routes extending north through Montgomery County and west along the C&O Canal
  • Mountain biking at Rock Creek Regional Park and nearby trail systems

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